Disney's Animated Classics

Animated Television Series

Although this history is concerned primarily with Disney's stand-alone shorts and features meant for theatrical or video release, it would be incomplete without a brief discussion of Disney animation on television. Walt Disney knew how to use the media to present his ideas, and television was no exception. The first Disney program on television was a Christmas 1950 special in which Walt promoted the soon-to-be-released animated feature "Alice in Wonderland." Another Christmas special appeared on Christmas 1951. Then, in October 1954, Disney launched his first television series, a variety program called "Disneyland" that aired on the new ABC television network. Each weekly show aired special programming featuring Disneyland attractions or Disney's animated and live-action films. This variety series has since undergone many reincarnations and survives today as "The Wonderful World of Disney." Below are some highlights of Disney on television.

[All photos copyrighted by the Walt Disney Company]

Movie Clip
1954: Walt Disney on the "Disneyland" show

  • Alice in Wonderland (12/25/1950) - special
  • Walt Disney Christmas Show (12/25/1951) - special
  • Disneyland (October 1954) - variety series on ABC
  • Dateline Disneyland (07/17/1955) - live opening of Disneyland park
  • Walt Disney Presents (Fall 1958) - variety series on ABC
  • Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (Fall 1961) - variety series on NBC
  • The Wonderful World of Disney (Fall 1968) - variety series on NBC
  • The Mouse Factory (Fall 1972) - syndicated series with cartoons and live guests
  • Disney's Wonderful World (Fall 1979) - variety series on NBC
  • The Disney Channel (04/18/1983) - Disney cable television network
  • The Disney Sunday Movie (Fall 1986) - variety series on ABC
  • Disney Afternoon (Fall 1990) - syndicated cartoon programming
  • The Wonderful World of Disney (Fall 1997) - variety series on ABC
  • Disney's One Saturday Morning (Fall 1997) - syndicated cartoon programming
  • Toon Disney (04/18/1998) - Disney cable network featuring only animation

    Since the Fall of 1985, Disney has produced an annual array of animated series that have aired on network television and/or Disney's own cable networks (The Disney Channel and Toon Disney). The earliest of these series were based on fantasy characters developed specifically for the respective series, such as the "Wuzzles," the "Gummi Bears," and the "Fluppy Dogs." Later series were based on established Disney characters, such as Scrooge McDuck, Winnie the Pooh, Chip and Dale, and Goofy. In more recent years, the series have been extensions of Disney's recent "classic" features, such as "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," and "Tarzan." No less than 30 such animated series have been produced since 1985, and many of these are still aired on the Disney cable networks. Below is a partial list of Disney's animated television series.

    Movie Clip 1991: "Darkwing Duck" television series

  • Disney's Wuzzles (Fall 1985)
  • Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (Fall 1985)
  • Disney's Fluppy Dogs (Fall 1986)
  • Duck Tales (Fall 1987)
  • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Fall 1988)
  • Chip 'n' Dale's Rescue Rangers (Fall 1989)

  • TaleSpin (Fall 1990)
  • Darkwing Duck (Fall 1991)
  • Goof Troop (Fall 1992)
  • Disney's The Little Mermaid (Fall 1992)
  • Bonkers (Fall 1993)
  • Gargoyles (Fall 1994)
  • Disney's Aladdin (Fall 1994)
  • The Lion King's Timon and Pumba (Fall 1995)
  • Disney's Sing Me a Song with Belle (Fall 1995)
  • The Mighty Ducks (Fall 1996)
  • Jungle Cubs (Fall 1996)
  • Quack Pack (Fall 1996)
  • Brand Spanking New Doug (Fall 1996)
  • 101 Dalmatians: The Series (Fall 1997)
  • Nightmare Ned (Fall 1997)
  • Disney's Hercules (Fall 1998)
  • PB & J Otter (Fall 1998)
  • Disney's Mickey Mouse Works (Fall 1999)
  • Madeline (Fall 1999)
  • Recess (Fall 1999)

  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (Fall 2000)
  • Tarzan (Fall 2001)
  • The House of Mouse (Fall 2001)
  • Disney's Teacher's Pet (Fall 2001)
  • Teamo Supremo (Fall 2001)
  • Proud Family (Fall 2001)
  • Stanley (Fall 2001)
  • Disney's Pepper Ann (Fall 2001)
  • Kim Possible (Summer 2002)
  • Lilo & Stitch: The Series (Fall 2003)
  • Dave the Barbarian (Spring 2004)
  • Disney's The Buzz on Maggie (Spring 2005)
  • The Emperor's New School (Fall 2005)
  • Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Spring 2006) (computer animated)
  • Disney's Little Einsteins (Spring 2006)

    Movie Clip 2002: "Kim Possible" television series

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    Copyright © 1996-2008 Arnold E. van Beverhoudt, Jr.
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    Last Updated: January 15, 2007